Bandage and method of making same



Patented May 2, 1944 Application MarchV 29, 1939, Serial No. 264,828.;

In Great Britain April 23, 1938 (Cl. 12S-156) v i Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in bandages, bandage holders, and the like and to a method f making bandages. More particut larly the invention has to do with the provision of scientifically designed bandages, such as surgical bandages, with connecting means secured to one or both ends thereofy for quick and facile attachment and detachment to any supporting means, with absolute security.

This is a continuation in part of a prior and copending application, Serial No. 755,484, filed November 30, 1934.

p A further object lis the provision of such an article with'a connecting medium secured to one or both ends thereof, said connecting medium being in the form of a strip or member of relatively stiff material of sufficient length to be passed through an aperture or loop and held securely therein while in cross-wise position, said medium being preferably secured directly and permanently to said article.

Another object is the provision of such an article in which the ends are folded or gathered or otherwise reduced in eifective width at or adjacent the junction with the connecting means whereby a hammocklike structure is formed.

An additional object has to do 'with methods for forming these lbandages whereby the desired shape is obtained.

A further object `of the yinvention has to do with the formation Vof the vrelativelyy stiff securing ends of the bandagesI whereby a `plastic materialvmay be incorporatedV with the bandage gauze yat the ends.

The present invention has a number Vof diversied uses. It is adaptable for use on infants paper diapers, surgical dressings, hair bands, or ladies belts. The invention is particularly adapted to making of catamenial bandages or sanitary napkins wherein a filter or absorbent material or pad is used in connection with a gauze bandageas a holder. An example of the application of the invention will-be explained in connection with this type of bandage.

In the drawing:

,Fig. 1 is a plan View of a strip ofthe bandage showing the various steps in the manufacture.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the bandage of Fig. l

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section of the completed end of the bandage showing the head portion.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 illustrate modified methods of making the bandage.

Fig. 7 illustrates the manner in which the bandage is fastened to a retaining strap,

Fig. 8 illustrates a cross-section of a modied end head composed of plastic material.

Fig. 9 is a perspective viewof armodication of the invention to beused asfa self-*supporting bandage.

In the making and using of catamenial bandages, a chief difficulty hasl been` in providing gauze ends which will permit: convenient attachment to the belt or clip'worn by theuser, and still provide a reasonable Vamount of comfort. The absorbent pads of these bandages are usually confined within the folds of a strip ofY gauze which is wrapped aroundA the pad several times. The gauze extends several inches beyond each end of the pad. ln some bandages the gauze is about 22" long while the pad is only about 8 or 9" long. This eXtra gauze at each end is necessary to permit the-user" to fold the ends Vto provide a reinforced portion which may be grasped and held' by a securing c lip provided for that purpose. In some cases the manufacturer folds these ends upon Ythemselves and stitchesA the folds to provide this Vsecuring por# tion.

Referring to the drawing in mo-re detail, Figs. 1 and 2 show plan and side viewsof the catamenial bandage in the process -of manufacture. At the left hand end of these figures a continuous gauze strip I0 is shown folded aroundY absorbent pads Il which are spaced as shown. vIt will be recognized that the dimensions of Ythe drawing are shown out of proportion for purposes of clarity and exemplication. The next step in the manufacture is` to twist every other pad lIl with respectto the strip sothat Vit is turned upside down. kAfter this-step thegauze between the pads Il vand lla takes the shape shown at I2. The next step in the operation is to cut the gauze at the narrow 'joining section I3. If desired, the portions |201?V the gauze may be stitched at l to retain-the shape as shown. Thisy is not necessary, however, if thel process is carried out as will be described.

After the gauze is cutrit is held in its-twisted shape and immediately clamped between the sides of a U-haped retaining member I5 which is shown 4in enlarged cross-'section 'infl-Fifg,` 3. This retaining member 'l5 i's-a `relatively stiff material which is bendable to the extent that it will clamp the ends of the gauze as indicated. Each end of the sections Ila are clamped within such a retaining member. This may be done by folding in such a manner as to encase the U-shaped strip with the gauze before it is bent together. The result is a sanitary napkin Which Aas in Fig. l.

similar to Bakelite. `formed of a Uk-shaped piece 24 having a groove not be obtained by simply folding or gathering the ends of the gauze as is usually done. Y

With the retaining member I as described, it is pcssibleto provide an extremely simple securing means for the bandage. It is necessary only to provide the supporting ribbons or elastic worn by the user with holes having a diameter large enough to receive the `cross-section of the member I5 but smaller than the length of the member.

This is illustrated in Fig. 7 where 'by automatic machines which have been developed for that purpose.

a ribbon or elastic I6 is provided with spaced holes VI'I to provide adjustability. The'lowerm'ost hole is shown with the retaining member I5 vinserted longitudinally therethrough and turned `transversely as shown so that it serves to fasten the bandade to the securing ribbon I6.

-In Figs. 4, 5, and 6V are shown modications ofthe method above described. vIn Fig. 4, the folded gauze I0 and pads II are arranged just I Y However, instead of twisting the intervening gauze it is cut on each side as shown at I8. The material thus freed is folded upon the center portion as at I9 so that a narrowed 4portion is formed between the absorptive pads II. The neck of the narrowed portion isthen cut as before and fastened with retaining end `members I5 in the same'manner.

In Figs. 5 and 6 a new type of absorptive pad is illustrated in connection with the present invention. This pad 20 is shaped as a trapezium with equal slanting sides. This design is espelcially recommended by nurses and physicians forjthe absorptive pad of a catamenial bandage. .The reason it has not been more widely used is that it` has beenrdiicult to apply gauze to suchfa pad without considerable expense. The

present invention is particularly useful with such a pad. In the manufacture of this type of bandage, pads 20 and 2I are located within the .folds of the gauze in alternate reversed position.

Every other pad is then twisted as described in connection with Fig. rl. The ends are then cut Aandfastened with the retaining ends. The resultis a bandage in whichthe gauze assumes the shape of the pad, the longer end 22 taper# .ma gradually (Fig. 6).

In Fig. 8 is illustrated a modified retaining `end for the bandages. Thisretaining Vend may `be formedcofa plastic material which softens A with thev application `of heat, or some material The plastic end may be article of the character described, which may be vreadily attached or detached, the connection bevwithout the necessity for reinforcement thereof by numerous folds and stitches as in the prior devices. The invention thus permits the saving of a considerable amount of material in the bandage.

In Fig. 9, I have showna modification of the bandage which may be used especially for cuts or wounds on arms, legs or the neck. An elastic may be provided to join the ends to form a self supporting bandage. It is also possible to form an eyelet in one end of the bandage and a fastening head on the other so that it may serve asa complete bandage without additional supporing means.

What I claim is:

l. The method of manufacturing a surgical bandage and the like which comprises folding a length of flexible bandage material transversely upon itself and placingabsorbent bandage pads within said folds at spaced intervals, turning vcertain of said pads with respect to the others to form a narrowed converging portion in vsaid material between said pads, cutting said material substantially at the middle of this narrowed portion and fastening on these narrowed out ends, a cross-head connecting means formed of stiffened material and relatively long and narrow but substantially shorter than the width of said material.

2. A method as claimed in claim l in which the absorbent pad used with the bandage material is formed in the shape of a tapered trapezium, said material being twisted'to assume substantially the contour of said pad.

,3. The method of manufacturing a surgical bandage and the like which comprises folding a length of flexible bandage to retain flexible pads placed at spaced intervals along said bandage, for-ming opposed transverse cuts in said bandage between said pads, folding the bandage freed by said cuts upon the center portion. to form converging portions from each pad, cutting said bandage at the narrowest-point in the convergance and placing on the ends thus formed a cross-head kconnecting end.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 which includes placing a block of plastic material on said converging portion, pressing the same into said bandage, and cutting the block transversely to form connecting ends'on'the bandages.

ANNETTE FRIDOLPH. 

